Why is my Xometry VQC shipment on hold?
A hold means the order cannot advance until an exception is resolved; it does not, by itself, identify the cause. Read the exact hold message, compare it with the live job requirements, determine whether the problem is missing evidence, conflicting data, unreadable files, or a physical nonconformance, then correct only the affected evidence and resubmit.
Start with the exact hold reason
Do not assume every hold is a failed part or a missing ballooned drawing. Xometry’s public order-status guidance says an on-hold order requires additional information, so the specific Workcenter or reviewer message is the starting point.
Copy the issue into a short resolution list. Separate hard facts from assumptions: which document was named, which field was missing or inconsistent, what value the reviewer expected, and whether the issue blocks shipment or only needs clarification.
The most common document-side causes
Packet holds often come from evidence that is present but cannot be connected across files. A certificate might show a supplier part number while the PO uses the customer part number; a revision may be omitted; a quantity may be duplicated as “30 30”; or a heat/lot number may stop at a distributor record.
- Part number, revision, quantity, or serial-number declaration is missing or ambiguous.
- Inspection-report characteristics do not correlate to the drawing or numerical results are absent.
- A CERT entry lacks the referenced material or process certificate.
- Material grade, condition, heat/lot, finish, or process specification differs across the packet.
- A file is image-only, low resolution, truncated, password-protected, or otherwise unreadable.
- Required part, marking, or packaged-in-box photos are absent or do not show the claimed condition.
Correct the evidence without creating a second mismatch
Use the controlling record to correct the source document. Do not type a guessed revision or quantity into a second file merely to silence a warning. If the job instruction is unclear, use Xometry’s support route inside the active workflow and retain the written answer with the release record.
After correction, rerun the full cross-document check. A change to the CoC can affect traceability, quantity, part identity, and inspection-report consistency. Finish with the physical and packaging release steps before the shipment advances.
Check the controlling information yourself
These outside references support the answer above. Open the current page and compare it with the requirements shown on your specific job.
Short answers quality teams can use
Does “shipment hold” mean the parts failed?+
Not necessarily. A hold may involve missing information, inconsistent documentation, unreadable evidence, a process question, or a physical nonconformance. Use the exact hold message.
Should I upload extra documents just in case?+
Upload the evidence the job requires. Unrelated or conflicting files can make the packet harder to review and may introduce new ambiguity.
Can a missing ballooned drawing create a hold?+
It can when a correlated drawing is required for the selected inspection. But restricted-data handling or a different inspection level can change the correct action, so it should be a review item rather than an automatic universal failure.
Continue the packet review
VQC Checker is independent software and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Xometry. This is general operational information, not customer approval, legal advice, export-control advice, or a substitute for qualified inspection.